New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-13
COAL STRIKERS RAID
DRIVING OFF NEW MEN WHO WERE At
WORK
REACHING THE PIER BY TUG WHILE IT VA
GUARDED AT THE LAND END

REACHING THE PIER BY TUG WHILE IT VA
GUARDED AT THE LAND END
The striking coal handlers made short work yes.
terday afternoon Of about thirty immigrants whd
had been engaged at Castle Garden and set to
work unloading coal at the Delaware and Hudson
Canal Companys wharves at WeehawI<en. Tho
immigrants, who were Seandinavians and Germana
were engaged In the morning and taken to Wee.
hawken on a tug. In less than an hour the
strikers were informed Of the fact and consulta-
tion was held among the leaders. Delegates were
appointed to go to the wharf and try to persuade
the new hands to quit work. but, warned by the
experience Of the day before the superintendent
had provided for such an emergency. Special
deputies appointed by Sheriff Heintze were sta
toned at the shore entrance to the wharf and re-
fused to permit anyone to 60 down who had not
permission from the superintendent. The delegar
tion, finding themselves balked. reported back to
the main body Of the strikers and another consul
tation held Fearing that some desperate
measure would be resorted to. word was sent To
Sheriff Heintzc and the number OF deputy sherifs
was increased to 100. The majority of them were
stationed at all the approaches to the wharf from
the land side while the others were scattered
about the yards and along the tracks.
About 2:3O p. m. party OF men numbering
about 200 marched down to the Fifthst. wharf in
IIobolSen and boarded tug which had been mado
fast to the end Of the pier q short time before.
The name Of the tug had been removed from the
front Of the pilot-house. but II was ascertained
that she was the Propeller OF Ncw-Yorlx. The men
had an air OF determination about them and
seemed bent on some desperate mission. They
were armed with clubs, sticks and weapons df
various kinds. As soon as the last man stepped
on board the lines cast of and the tug started
up the river, keeping close to the western shore.
In few minutes the Delaware and Hudson Canal
Companys wharf was reached, the tug ran along
side Of 1t and her motley crowd OF passengers
climbed over her guard-rail and gathered in o
crowd at the end OF the pier minute later @
man who seemed to be In command shouted "Come
on boys!" and the whole crowd made rush for
the immigrants who had suspended their WORK
temporarily, watching the movements Of the m
vaders
The hostile and threatening appearance of tho
newcomers alarmed the immigrants and they
started to run up the wharf. The invaders started
after them, shouting, yelling and cursing. and SO
increased the terror Of the immigrants that they
fell over each other in their haste to get out Of
danger. Those In the rear were quickly overtaken
and number Of them were dubbed and beaten.
Two of them fell overheard, but were fshcd out.
When the marauders had accomplished their pur.
rose of driving the immigrants of the wharf they
hastily re embarked in the tug and it steamed down
the river again.
| The whole affair occurred so quickly that the
| deputy sheriffs at tho other end Of the wharf
only learned Of 1t in time to the tug stcaming
away from the pier and heading down the river.
Those OF the immigrants who had been injured
wero taken to the Weehawlsen police station.
where their wounds were dressed. None of the
wounds was serious. An effort made to
/ btlf fhayy
positively refused and were taken back to Castle
Garden At o'clock everything was quiet on tho
wharves and In the town. The leaders of tho
strike professel to be ignorant Of the identity OF
| the men who made the attack on the immigrants.
Just before the tugboat landed at the wharf crowd
OF about 400 strikers marched down from the dfrec-
tion of Union Hill and congrcgated on the shore
end evidently with view Of distracting the atten-
tion Of the deputy sherifs from what was going
on at the other end
p. W Frost. superintendent of the wharves.
tclegra phed the news to Colonel lie Grand B.
Cannon acting president of the Delaware and IIud'
son Company who at once informed GOyernor
| Albeit of the affair and called on him for moro
efficient protection lie said to TRIBUNE re-
porter:
The audacty of these Knight. OF Labor OUTRAGEOUS
rosr, they had done their swora duty That would
be a serious step TO take OF course b not more severe
the @ asy r work a OSs s
Do No skin, special training no great strength even,
II he which resns the and
a. tumbics down the chute II becomes cogged they
SSis Sssvc "sn with Ts e PRspa and RsaS
ing They have been Obliged 10 stop h"ng W are cIa Sa
only company that have employed new men and gone on
handling coal We received no IRON @ ns ,ne "sn a
told them continue working and the strike oil their
fellows resulted In higher rate OF wages being wrnx
fha nfhpr
rate They expressed themselves az sasnea Nun ,hae
proposal and continued to work until ordered OH py 'ner
do not wish to pose alarmis but the truth e
slmnsS ns siSy hSf hSs 'Ry FG plan Srssns
will work when arrives a. per IN
When il comes in it is elevated by machinery Al
ready actor & piing ,he price OF stove coal though
can see no necessity for that at present.
Colonel Cannon said that men wOuld be put
at work to-day and that the companys own aug.
| boat would patrol the river 'front.' carry "2 i'i''
u District sssenibly No. 40 has done all that it
| couid 10 bring about settlement OF the trouoies
| Letween the companies and the coai-handiers
some days ago the following letter was sent 10 no
officers of the different companies ahecte" W '"'
OFFICE BOARD OF ARBITRATION AND srRIKEs,}
DrARsIR am requested by this Boar 20 write ,, you
and ask for conference between tue companies iaer
este in this unfortunate coal trouble anu tc ;,
eessomhes having Jurisdiction along the coast WIN
desire to terminate conflict we believe TO ne
ioss 10 both sides and TO the people In general awas
speedy reply Respectfully, T. PUTNAM secretary
| The only reply received 10 this communication
nS frnm Secretary William f. Street Of the Penn
| syiyauia Coal Company. tie SAID
Your favor of the 7tn is AZ hand hs s9mpnny aoes
@ ,no Erie Railroad Company, which transports tne coai.
no to confer with your Board IN reference
w the irrences which exist between the companies
and the iaborers.
A speci al effort was made to bring about con;
ferenre with the Delaware, Lackawanna aud
| " A
~ 3" nnntsrence was sent to the officers OF tho
company on tuesday. aud though he was paiu "
hing a reply none has come as yet -.
| There are about |, 900 coal boatmen now OUT oL
= -, account of the strike. They say that they
%vs w." no grievances, but they have determined 10
stand by the strikers and VIII not hau' coal 'na'
| has neen lOaded by "scaDs
II Is reported that a movement Is on ioot 10 ca.
oass meeting 10 protest against the action OF tno